Greenfield Elelementary School kindergarten teacher Trasie Johns helps her students with a classroom exercise at the Gilbert school. School districts want parents to register their kidergarteners early so officials know how many teachers will need to be hired for the upcoming school year. Feb. 18, 2010.
Less arts and physical education. Larger classes. Fewer teachers.
Arizona school districts already know they’re taking a cut next school year based on the preliminary budget passed by lawmakers. The question is, will there be more cuts? That depends, they say, on what happens in the ballot boxes May 18, when Arizona voters finally have their say on Proposition 100, a 1-cent, temporary hike in the state sales tax that has been in the works for more than a year but was just approved for the ballot this spring. Parent group rates lawmakers on education Brewer approves budget for rest of '10, '11 Budget-balancing bills on Brewer's desk Lawmakers OK $1.2 billion in budget cuts The increase — which would raise the Arizona sales tax to 6.6 percent on the dollar — would be in place until May 31, 2013. Supporters say it could raise about $1 billion a year for education, health care, public safety and human services. Gov. Jan Brewer pushed the sales tax as a way to help shorten the gap of a $4.4 billion revenue shortfall predicted for next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Budget cuts and shifting of payments are still needed to make up the rest. Arizona school leaders say the sales tax is a way to keep them from making detrimental cuts beyond what’s already been taken the past two years, and what’s expected to disappear next year even if the tax is approved — about $300 million statewide. “Schools have taken as many hits as they can,” said Gilbert Unified School District governing board member E.J. Anderson. “If we want the quality of education to remain in Arizona, we have to approve it.” The tax increase has earned the support of the Arizona Tax Research Association, a public money watchdog group. ATRA President Kevin McCarthy wrote on the Yes on 100 Web site, “ATRA views the temporary tax as a management tool that will hopefully decrease the use of damaging budget gimmicks over the next three years. This tax has to be combined with further budget cuts over the next three years to ensure a balanced budget in Fiscal Year 2014.” East Valley school district leaders are preparing two — or more — budgets for their governing boards and community members to review in the next few weeks as the countdown to the May 18 tax vote begins. Mesa Unified School District outlined for teachers possible solutions to combat the known cuts and possible cuts during a meeting last week. Like other districts, what actually happens won’t be decided by Mesa’s governing board until after the May 18 vote. Not only is the district facing state aid budget cuts from the state, it will see its dollars decrease because of declining enrollment. Possible changes range from decreasing art and physical education classes to staff furloughs, class size increases and pay decreases. “Of course we’ll do our best,” said board member Mike Hughes, “but you can’t have those kinds of dollar cuts without impacting the product you deliver.” Gilbert Unified’s leaders presented four budgets to its board members late last month. Two outline the cuts possible based on both budget scenarios. The other two outline additional funds needed if the district decides to offer tuition-free full-day kindergarten. Part of the budget already approved by state lawmakers cuts the state aid to schools to offer full-day kindergarten at all schools, approved only in 2006. Gilbert is the only East Valley district that has not made a decision on whether or not to offer free full-day kindergarten next school year. The board will look at the issue again on Tuesday. If it decides to follow neighboring districts — Higley, Chandler and Mesa — and offer the full-day option without charging tuition, leaders will have to find another $3.7 million in the budget to cover the costs. Options to save funds in Gilbert, as outlined by the leadership, include the possibility of reducing its special needs preschool program from five days a week to four, raising parking and athletic fees, and asking employees to pay more for health insurance. The Higley Unified School District is facing not only possible cuts, but a desire to bring teacher pay closer to its competitors, said Superintendent Denise Birdwell. Teachers have had a salary freeze four of the last seven years. The initial, preliminary budget presented — prior to any additional cuts should the tax vote fail — does that by funding a “step” for teachers. “Step” pay is based on their years of service or educational gains. But without the tax hike, there could be a base salary cut, which would in essence void the step. Because of a contingency plan and growth, Chandler Unified School District is in a different situation than surrounding districts. Even with the cuts already known, the district is planning to hire about $2 million worth of teachers for next school year to accommodate an additional 750 kids expected in its schools, said district spokesman Terry Locke. But like other districts, there would be no cushion should the tax vote fail, he said. “With this scenario, we would have 100 to 150 fewer staff (administrators, teachers, support staff), across-the-board pay cuts of 2 percent to 4 percent and slight increases in student-pupil ratio, which is currently an average of 23 to 1,” Locke wrote in an e-mail. Not only are school board members concerned about what’s going to happen. The message is getting out to parents. “Teachers work hard enough without the added specter of potential job loss looming over their heads, and it makes me wonder how effective they can be as educators while they are waiting to hear their fate,” said Anna Coody, who has four children attending Chandler schools. INFORMATION Special election on Proposition 100, a 1 cent state sales tax increase for three years Voter registration deadline: April 19 Early voting begins: April 22 Election day: May 18 Mesa Unified School District • $40 million cut in the 2009/2010 school year • $30 million in cuts known for 2010/2011 • $30 million in additional cuts possible without tax increase Chandler Unified School District • $10.6 million in the 2009/2010 school year • $14.6 million in cuts known for 2010/2011 • $14.4 million in additional cuts possible without tax increase Gilbert Unified School District • $26 million cut in the 2009/2010 school year • $4.7 million in cuts known for 2010/2011 • $11.4 million in additional cuts possible without tax increase Higley Unified School District • $8 million cut in the 2009/2010 school year • $2.3 million in cuts known for 2010/2011 • $3.9 million in additional cuts possible without tax increase Queen Creek Unified School District* • $1.8 million in cuts known for 2010/2011 • $2.0 million in additional cuts possible without tax increase Source: Arizona Association of School Business Officials Web site and school districts * 2009-10 figures from Queen Creek were not available at press time.